If I remember correctly, my first reaction to John Mayer when he hit the mainstream back in the early 2000s was a very muted "meh". This was back when I was just a freshman in high school, and when his first big single "Your Body is a Wonderland" was swimming all over the airwaves. Not to say that I didn't think it's simple hook and melodically pleasing picking pattern wasn't competent, it just wasn't my thing. Then, I started hearing the song absolutely EVERYWHERE-- movies, tv commercials, every single radio station, those old "All The Hits" CDs that Wal-Mart made millions selling- and I, based on just this one narrow view of his music, decided John Mayer just wasn't for me.
In 2012, a very good friend of mine bought me a ticket to see John Mayer live for my birthday. By that point, I had actually heard his live record Where The Light Is, and had already been turned on to the fact that he wasn't just some pretty boy singing poppy love songs while banging half of Hollywood's hottest actresses. The thing is (if you don't already know) John Mayer is actually one hell of a brilliant guitarist. You can't always tell from his hit singles, but the guy knows his stuff. One of my friends once compared him to Stevie Ray Vaughan, and I would never have seen the huge influence the great Stevie Ray has had on Mr. Mayer until sinking my teeth into Where The Light Is. For one thing, Mayer not only gets up on stage and performs blindingly inspired versions of his hits and better known album tracks, but actually reserves a whole set for what he calls The John Mayer Trio. A blues-based, jazz-inflected collective fronted by Mayer that allows him to step out of the pop impresario costume and let his obsession with guitar prowess and roots-rock influence all hang out. After hearing that record (and watching the beautifully shot DVD that accompanied it's release), I was extremely excited to see him live. And let me tell you, he didn't disappoint. From minute one, Mayer held me completely captive and not only made good on his promise to imbue his hits with the live elasticity and improvisation he is known for, but I was also blown away by the renditions of his newest material I hadn't yet heard from the Born & Raised album. The fact that each of the songs were joined by beautifully trippy background video that made the stage seem cavernous and endless was just a cherry on top of the whole experience.
Born & Raised, on a purely musical level, is a bit of a scaling back for Mayer. While his previous records piled on the layers, with glossy production work that sounded pristine and expensive, Mayer makes a conscious effort this time around to peel some of the layers back and let things sound natural and warm. Taking inspiration from the singer-songwriter records of the 60s & 70s, with a very healthy dose of old-school country and Americana thrown in for good measure, Born & Raised has a laid-back and easygoing comfortable feeling that provides a better bed for his nostalgic sentimentality. The bulk of the album sounds a little weightless, hovering in that ethereal space between rousing and relaxing, more like a tall glass of warm milk for the soul rather than a rock n' roll speedball shot to the brain. Depending on how you like your rock music, this could go either way, but in light of the career blunders and health problems that threatened to tear down everything Mayer had built by that point, Born & Raised signals not only a much more mature and measured artist, but one that no longer has to so boastfully shout his strengths to be taken seriously.
None of that is to say that this record isn't strong or powerful. Songs like the anthemic title track, "Something Like Olivia", and possibly his most inspiring song to date "Age of Worry", showcase how Mayer is incredibly adept at bridging the gap between the music of the past and the angst-ridden social mentality of today's manic world. By sewing stories of repentance, forgiveness, late-night anxiety, and chronic nostalgia to the comforting warmth of traditional american folk songwriting, Mayer comes full circle. By embracing his roots, he's able to better contextualize that brash attitude of his that could sometimes threaten to outshine his many musical talents. This is an old-school album, where the entire tapestry appeals more than just each individual song on their own. With the longest track clocking in at just over 5 minutes, and a few that hardly push the 3 minute mark, Born & Raised was clearly meant to be easily digested in one sitting. And I can confidently say that's the best way to enjoy it.
You might have a certain image of John Mayer in your head. If it's based mostly on his upbeat pop singles and his outsized public persona, I urge you to take a chance on letting Born & Raised sing you to sleep. Or drive you to work. Or simply calm you down at home when the whirlwind of 21st century life seems a bit too much to take.
Alive in the age of worry, indeed.
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